Curtain and curtain retaining mechanism



March 27, 1934. FA. sELJE CURTAN AND CURTAIN RETAINING MECHANISM Filed June 3, 1932 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNED STATES PATENT FFICE CURTAIN AND CURTAIN RETAINING MECHANISM ration of Delaware Application June 3, 1932, Serial No. 615,073

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved curtain and particularly to improved mechanism for releasably retaining the same inr selected positions.

More specifically, this invention relates to curtains of the character With which windows and doors of railroad passenger oars, street cars, buses and the like are equipped and which are releasably held under tension in selected positions.

A curtain of this type generally includes a shade element which is attached to a roller on Which it is capable of being Wound and the roller is rotatably mounted on the frame of the window or door insuch a position that it may be eX- tended entirely over or only partly over the Window pane. The roller is usually provided with resilient means which normally tend to rotate it and to Wind the curtain thereon to a fully 20 retracted position.

I-Ieretofore it has been the practice to provide the free end portion of the shade element with a stiffening member having releasable latch elements which extend into recesses or notches provided along the opposite side members of the Window frame. Such mechanism requires resilient means for normally urging the latch ele- Vments toward the side members of Ythe window frame and also requires the provision of manually operable releasing apparatus involving an assembly of numerous slidably and pivotally mounted parts which, by reason of their concealment, are difficult, if not impossible, to lubricate. As a result, it is a common experience of passengers to encounter much diiculty in adjusting the curtains of such vehicles and it is not at all unusual for the latch elements and the parts of the disengaging apparatus to become bound or jammed to an extentthat renders the curtains incapable of adjustment. Further annoyance is frequently caused by the persistence of curtains of this character to jump beyond a selected position when a passenger releases his grip upon the manual control members of the latch disengaging apparatus.

In my improved curtain and curtain retaining mechanism, the provision of all slidably and pivotally mounted elements on the end stifener is completely dispensed with and an integral, rigid strip is relied upon to serve the purposes of latch mechanism and to serve as a stiffener for the free end of the shade element. Projections on the ends of the stiifener are received in channels of guide members extending along the opposite side members of the Window frame. These channels are provided with communicating spaced notches for holding the curtain in diverse selected positions, r)The stiffening strip is arranged in overlapping relation with the marginal portion of the free end cf the shade element and the longitudinal edge of the stifiening member Which is adjacent the free end of the curtain is fixed to the latter. The tension applied on the shade element by the resilient actuating member oi the curtain roller urges the stiiening member to a diagonal relation With respect to the lengths of the guide channels and releasably holds the end projections of the stifening strip in the notches of the guide members. The projections may be displaced from the notches by merely pressing upon the free edge of the stiffening strip in a direction which tends to move it into parallel relation with the plane of the curtain.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide mechanism for releasably holding a curtain in selected positions of which the portion that is carried by the shade element of the curtain is integral and completely devoid of relatively movable and pivotal elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide ona curtain, means of this character which is adapted to be releasably held in inter-engaged relation with a notched member by the tension applied on the curtain by the roller on which it is Wound.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a curtain'retaining element of this kind which also serves as a stiffener for the free end of the shade element; to provide a combined shade stiffening element and retaining mechanism latch element which may be released by momentarily l pressing thereon in a direction transverse to the path of movement of the shade element; and to provide releasable means of this character by Which the shade element may be advanced, from one positionto another, a notch at a time, by striking the stiifening element successively.

An illustrative embodimentof my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an interior side elevational View of a Window which is equipped with my improved curi tain and curtain retaining mechanism. l

Fig. 2 is an offset vertical sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line III- III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View show- Y ing the free end portion of the shade element and its combined stiifening member and retaining mechanism latch element in detail.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 4, but showing the free end portion of the shade element and stiffening member partly in section.

In the form shown, my improved curtain and curtain retaining mechanism is illustrated in conjunction with a vertical window which includes a window frame having spaced vertical side frame members l and upper and lower frame members 2. The curtain includes a roller 3 which, in the illustration is disposed between the upper end portions of the side members l of the window frame, and a flexible shade element 4 that isadapted to be extended downwardly from the top of the window.

A spring 5 conned in a recess 6 in one end of the roller 3 normally tends to rotate the roller in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to wind the shade element 4 thereon. The inner end 7 of this spring is received in an aperture formed in the roller 3 and the outer end 8 of the spring is received in an aperture formed in the adjacent side member 1 of the window frame. During unwinding of the shade element the spring 5 is energized and conditioned to rewind the shade element when its free end is released. The curtain roller 3 may, however, be positioned at the bottom of the window so that the shade element can be extended upwardly if desired or it may be disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to one of the side members of the window frame in order to permit extension of the shade element from one lateral side to the other lateral side of the window. In either event, my improved curtain retaining mechanism may be correspondingly located so as to selectively hold the free end of the shade element 4 in anyone of a plurality of positions.

The free end of the shade element 4 is provided with a rigid plate-like stiffening member 9 which extends entirely across the width of the shade element and which has substantially fiat ears lo on its respectively opposite extremities that protrude beyond the sideedges f the shade element. The stiifening member 9 is preferably formed of sheet metal and it is provided along its lower longitudinal edge with an open bead ll in which is received a looped convolution 12 of the free end portion of the shade element 4. A rod 13 extends through the looped convolution l2 of the shade element and the bead ll is crimped around the rod and the looped convolution so as to firmly hold the stifening member against displacement from the free end of the shade element.

The portion of the stiffening member 9 which extends upwardly from the bead 1l is preferably disposed at an inclination to the plane of the shade element, and the upper longitudinal edge of the stiifening member is connected with the shade element by a flexible strip of sheet-like material 13 which is stitched to the shade element at one edge along the lines indicated at 14. The flexible strip 13 is provided with a looped convolution 14' which is received in a bead 15 formed at the upper longitudinal edge of the stiffening member 9. The bead l is firmlyY crimped around the convolution 14 of the flexible strip which is in turn internally supported by a rod 16 extending through the convolution. This flexible member serves as a ledge for receiving the tips of the fingers of a hand applied on the stiifening member to lextend the shade element downwardly and it also effectively seals the space between the shade element and the stiffening member against the admission `of dirt.

The ears of the stiffening member are preferably substantially parallel with the main body portion thereof and they extend into vertical channels 1'7 provided on the adjacent faces of the side members l of the window frame. Each channel 1'7 has a substantially continuous outer side wall 1.8 and an inner side wall 19 in which is formed a plurality of vertically spaced notches 20. Each notch has an abutment face 2l located in a plane extending transversely of the length of the channel 17 and includes a converging side 22 which is inclined at a relatively slight angle with respect to the length of the channel. The ears 10 are substantially wider than `the combined width of the channel and depth of one of the notches so that the widths of the ears generally extend diagonally of the channels. The lower edges 23 of the ears l0 ride upon the continuous side wall 18 of the channel and the upper edges 24 of the ears 10 are receivable in the notches 20 into which they are guided during upward movement of the stiffening member by the inclined faces 22 of the notches.

When the upper edges 24 of the ears 10 are engaged in a pair of corresponding notches of the opposite side members l of the window frame, the upward pull or tension applied upon the shade element 4 by the spring 5 normally tends to rotate the stiffening member 9 in a clockwise direction, as Viewed in Fig. 2. Such rotation is prevented by the engagement of the lower edges 23 of the ears l0 with the continuous outer side wall 13 of the channel. The force of tension, however, applied on the stiffening member by the shade element releasably holds the upper edges 24 of the ears l0 in interengaged relation with the abutment faces 2l of the notches, thereby preventing upward movement of the stiffening member 9 and free end portion of the shade element 4. 1n this manner, the free end of the shade element 4 may be selectively held in a plurality of different elevations by bringing the ears iii into registration with the proper notches 20.

In extending the shade element of the curtain from an upper to a lower position it is merely necessary to pull downwardly upon the .stiffening member 9 until the desired adjustment is eected. When the stiflening member is released .the tension applied on the shade element by the spring 5 moves the stifening member upwardly until the upper edge portions of the ears l0 engage the abutment face 2l of the closest notch. During this slight movement of the stiffening member 9 the upper edges 24 are guided into engagement with the abutment face 2l of the notches by the inclined faces 22.

In order to raise the free end of the shade element from one position to a higher position, it is merely necessary to press outwardly upon the stiffening member 9 so as to urge it toward a parallel relation with the shade element. This movement of the stiflening member disengages the upper edges of the ears l0 from the abutment faces 2l of one pair of corresponding notches and permits the tension applied on the shade element to move the latter together with the stiffening member 9 upwardly until the upper edge portions of the ears l0 contact with the abutment faces of the next higher pair of corresponding notches. The ears l0 of the stifening member may be manually held out of registration with the abutment faces of the notches so as to permit continuous retraction of the shade element 4 if desired, or the shade element may be retracted in a step-by-step order by striking the upper edge portions of the stifening member successive outwardly directed blows.

In some installations, particularly Where the shade element is comparatively narrow, it may be found to be desirable to employ the channel 17 and associated notches 20Y along only one side member of the Window frame.,

With my improved shade retaining mechanism the tension applied on the curtain by the shade Winding means thereof is relied upon to releasably hold the shade element in a selected position and the provision of individual resilient means for accomplishing this purpose is dispensed with. That part of the retaining mechanism which is carried by the shade element of the curtain is absolutely devoid of relatively movable and pivotal parts and therefore jamming of the mechanism is effectively guarded against.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention is herein shown and described, it Will be understood that Various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is not my intention to limit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions including a stationary member having a channel therein extending longitudinally of the shade element of said curtain and provided with spaced notches along one side Wall of said channel; a relatively movable member having an end portion of greater Width than the width of said channel projecting into the latter, one edge of said end portion being engageable in said notches and an opposite edge thereof being engageable With the other side Wall of said channel; and means on said movable member adjacent the Y Y latter edge of said end portion for securing the free end of said shade element thereto.

2. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions including a pair of stationary members each having a channel adjacent one lateral edge of the shade element of said curtain and each provided with spaced notches along one Wall of each channel; a relatively movable member extending between said stationary members having xed opposite end portions of greater Width Y than the Widths of said channels extending thereinto and having opposite edge portions engageable in said notches and With the other side Walls of said channels respectively; and means on said movable member adjacent the edge thereof oppo- Y site from the notch engaging edge portions thereof for securing the free end of said shade element thereto.

3. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions, said curtain including a shade element, a roller having resilient means for Windd i end portion of greater Width than the combined depth of said notches and Width of said channel extending into the latter and having opposite fixed edge portions engageable in said notches and engageable With the other side Wall of said channel respectively; and means on said movable member adjacent the edge of said member opposite from the notch engaging edge portion thereof for securing the free end portion of said shade element to said movable member and applying the tension of said shade element on said movable member to releasably hold the end portion thereof in diagonal relation to said channel and in interengaged relation With a selected notch.

4. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions, Asaid curtain including a shade element, a roller having resilient means for Winding said shade element thereon, and a pair of stationary members each having a channel therein adjacent one lateral edge of said shade element respectively and each provided With notches along one side Wall of said channels having abutment faces substantially normal to the plane of said shade element; a relatively movable member eX- tending between said stationary members having xed end portions of greater Width than the combined Width of one channel and depth of one notch extending into said channels and having opposite edge portions engageable with said abutment faces and engageable with the other side Walls of said channels respectively; and means on said movable member spaced laterally from the notch engaging edge portion thereof for securing the free end portion of said shade element to said movable member whereby to employ the tension of said shade element to releasably hold the end portion of said movable member in diagonal relation to said channel and in interengaged relation With a selected notch,

5. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions, said curtain including a shade element, a roller having resilient means for vlinding said shade portion thereon, and a stationary member having a channel adjacent a lateral edge of said shade element, spaced abutment faces on one of the side Walis of said channel substantially normal to the plane ci said shade element; and a relatively movable plate-like member xed to and overlapping the free end portion of said shade element having a iixed rigid end part extending into said channel and disposed diagonally of the length thereof, opposite edge portions of said end part being engageable with said abutment faces and with the other side Wall of said channel respectively for releasably holding said plate-like member in a selected position under the tension applied on said shade element by said resilient means.

6. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions With respect to a Window frame including spaced side members, at least one of which has abutments thereon and shoulders spaced and opposite from each abutment, said curtain being mounted between said side members and including a shade element and a roller g having means normally tending to Wind said shade element on said roller; a plate xed to the free end of said shade element having an end section extending at an inclination to the path of movement of said shade element, said end section having edge portions engageable with, but spaced farther apart than said shoulders and abutments respectively, and adapted to be releasably held in engagement with any selected one of said abutments by said shade element.

'7. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions with respect to a Window frame including spaced side members, at least one of which has abutments thereon and a side wall spaced and opposite from said abutments, said curtain being mounted between said side members and including a shade element and a roller having means normally tending to Wind said shade element on said roller; a plate xed along one longitudinal edge to the free end of said shade element overlapping the latter and extending from its free end toward said roller at an inclination to said shade element, said plate having an end section provided with edge portions engageable with said abutments and side Wall simultaneously and adapted to be held thereby against turning beyond a predetermined inclined. relationship to said shade element and adapted t0 be releasably held in engagement with any selected one of said abutments by said shade element; and a sheet-like member extending be tween xed to said shade element and to the other longitudinal edge of said plate providing a purchase for unwinding of said shade element and providing a closure for the space between said plate and said shade element.

8. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions with respect to a window frame having spaced guide members provided with spaced stops and a side wall opposite and spaced from said stops, said curtain being mounted between said guide members and including a shade element and means retaining the latter under tension and normally tending to move its free end in a predetermined direction; a rigid stiening member fixed to the free end of said shade element and extending in overlapping relation to said shade element from the free end thereof and at an inclination to said shade element and having ears projecting beyond the lateral edges of said shade element and received in said guide members between said stops and said side wall, said ears being engageable with said spaced stops and side wall simultaneously and so constructed and arranged as to be limited thereby from turning beyond a predetermined inclined position relative to said shade element for positively arresting movement of said stiiening member in one direction while said stiiening member is held at said predetermined inclination to said shade element under the tension applied on the latter by said means.

9. In mechanism for retaining a curtain in selected positions relative to a Window trarne including spaced side members having spaced abutment faces substantially normal to the plane of said curtain and a side Wall opposite and spaced from said faces, said curtain including a roller mounted between the upper ends of said side members, a shade element attached to said roller and means for winding said shade element on said roller; a plate iiXed along its lower longitudinal edge to the free edge of said shade element extending upwardly therefrom at an inclination to the plane of said shade element and having an ear protruding beyond a lateral edge of said shade element and extending between said abutment faces and side wall, said ear being engageable with said abutment faces and side walls simultaneously and so constructed and arranged as to limit turning of said plate beyond a predetermined inclination to said shade element and adapted to be releasably held in engagement with said abutment faces under the tension of said winding means for positively holding said shade element and plate against upward movement.

FREDERICK A. SELJE. 

